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1.25.2013

Guest Post: A Cross-Country RV Trip and Fishing Adventure

Joe Laing, from El Monte RV sent me an email a while back asking if he could do a guest post on the blog. It has always been a dream of mine to take a drive across the nation, with no real schedule, and stop along every body of water I could find to fish! Since that doesn't seem to be doable at the moment for me - I'll live vicariously through his story. Hope you all enjoy!
BFA

By Joe Laing, El Monte RV

Here is the trip you've been dreaming of – a cross-country drive while stopping to fish at any place that looks even a little tempting. No time limit, no pressure. You can stop wherever and whenever you like. The most convenient way to do this is in an RV motorhome, as you will never have to worry about having a place to clean up, a roof right there to get in out of the rain or an indoor place to warm up (or cool off, depending on the time of year). And you will never be far from the action, getting right back out there to throw in a line.

March is fast approaching, probably the best time to go on your RV adventure. Early spring will be an ideal time to travel the highways and byways to discover some of the best and least crowded fishing spots imaginable. For a sample (partial) itinerary, let's start in St. Louis, Missouri, taking off west on Interstate 44.

Stopping first at the Mark Twain National Forest, you will find many rivers and clear streams and sparkling lakes. All are well stocked. Crane Lake offers lovely scenery along with largemouth bass, panfish and channel catfish. Wade-fish in Marble Creek for smallmouth bass and panfish. There is RV camping available no matter what ranger district you end up in.

Now head north on Highway 7 to Lake of the Ozarks. The year-round fishing here is ideal, with over 1,100 miles of shoreline. You will discover crappie beds, creeks, mud flats and coves that will yield a dream catch. Whatever your preference, you will find it here, from spotted and largemouth bass to blue, channel and flathead catfish. You can catch walleye and bluegill too. If here in the spring, head to the upper ends of Gravois, Niangua or Grand Glaize arms as that is where the fish gather at this time of year. Some record catches have been made in this lake, such as a 42-pound muskie and a 91-pound blue catfish.

Further on is the Harry S. Truman Reservoir. Campgrounds offer RV sites and dump stations. Besides amazing wildlife sightings, you can hook some black or white bass, crappie or catfish. It is to be noted that crappies are good on blue or black jigs, going down nineteen feet in twenty feet of water. Fish from boat or shore, whatever you prefer! The boat launches are open year round.

Now drop south to Stockton Lake State Park and Stockton Lake where you will find the very best place in Missouri to catch walleyes. You will also find a host of other fish, like black bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill and more. Finally you'll have to move on. Of course you don't have to if you don't want to. This is all off the clock, you understand. But once back on I-44, you will head into the northeastern-most corner of Oklahoma. Along the eastern edge of the state lies a whole network of lakes, rivers and streams, with a whole network of back roads that will take you where you want to go.

Grand Lake of the Cherokees is the place to go in March for smallmouth bass. Stick around for a while and in April you will also catch largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie. Further along still you will come upon Tenkiller Ferry Lake, with 130 miles of shoreline and a long list of great fish. This diverse fishery provides channel catfish, flathead catfish, rainbow trout, largemouth bass and walleye. It is very possible to hook a fish over ten pounds in this lake.

Although fishing is available year round on Eufaula Lake, the spring is the best time to come. More than 600 miles of shoreline is sure to give you the perfect spot to catch bass or crappie. In fact, this lake is known to be one of the state's top 25 bass lakes and in the top 10 of all Oklahoma crappie lakes.

Before you get to Texas, you will want to stop at Sardis Lake, just a short way north of Clayton on Highway 2. Catch some crappie, walleye or catfish before moving on to Hugo Lake. Amazing fishing here with plenty of bass and crappie! But here is where we end our sample itinerary. You are about to enter Texas, whose fishing spots could fill a book. You have the idea though. Pull out a road atlas and look for those little blue areas and head out in your RV. That's the adventure of it all!

About the Author

Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals, your nationwide source for RV rentals. El Monte RV also sells used motorhomes through eight different locations across the United States. For more information on purchasing a used motorhome see http://www.elmontervsales.com/.

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